What’s open and closed over Christmas and New Year’s in Ottawa

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With the holiday season upon us, here’s what you need to know about what’s open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays.

City services

The city’s 3-1-1 contact centre will only be open for urgent matters.

Service Ottawa client services at City Hall, Ben Franklin Place and Kanata and Orleans locations will all be closed Dec. 25 and 26. The Provincial Offences counter and phone services at 100 Constellation Dr. will also be closed.

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Metcalfe, West Carleton and North Gower client service centre locations are closed from Dec. 16 until Jan. 3.

The City of Ottawa Spay and Neuter Clinic at 26 Concourse Gate will be closed between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3.

The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Ave. will also be closed on Dec. 25 and 26.

Employment and Social Services offices at 370 Catherine St, 2339 Ogilvie Road, 100 Constellation Dr. and 2020 Walkley Road will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26.

All municipal childcare centres will be closed from Dec. 23 until Dec. 27.

No curbside or multi-residential green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection will occur on Dec. 25. The pick-up will instead take place on Dec. 26. Collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

The Trail Waste Facility will be closed on Dec. 25, but it will be open on Boxing Day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Transit

OC Transpo holiday service runs Dec. 23 to Jan. 3. Changes include reduced services of certain routes and a storm schedule for when more than 31 cm of snow is expected.

The 2-for-1 DayPass that allows two customers to ride OC Transpo for the price of one DayPass is valid on Dec. 25 and 26. In addition, OC Transpo services will be free on New Year’s Eve after 6 p.m.

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Customer service will be available at 613-560-5000 on Dec. 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Dec. 26 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Real-time schedule information is available 24/7 by calling 613-560-1000 or texting 560560 plus the four-digit bus stop number or the first three letters of the station’s name. Visit octranspo.com for more information and OC Transpo’s holiday service hours.

Parking

City Hall, the ByWard Market Garage at 70 Clarence St. and the Dalhousie Garage at 141 Clarence St. will all have free parking from 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 to 7 a.m. on Dec. 26. Exit gates will be in the upright position to allow for free exits.

All other city parking regulations apply.

City recreation and cultural services

Expect modified schedules at recreation, community and fitness centres during the holiday season. Check the city’s website for winter break drop-in schedules.

Sledding hills and the city’s refrigerated rinks at City Hall, the Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink, Lansdowne Park skating court and Ben Franklin Place skating rink will all be open, weather permitting. Check the alert status on the home page of ottawa.ca before going.

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All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed Dec. 25 and 26.

The Shenkman Arts Centre will be closed Dec. 24 to Dec. 27. The box office at Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe will be closed Dec. 24 until Jan. 14.

Museums

The Canadian Museum of Nature will be closed on Dec. 24 to 25, but open on Dec. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The National Gallery of Canada will be closed on Dec. 25 but open the next day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Canadian Museum of History, Canada Aviation and Space Museum and Canada Science and Technology Museum will all be closed on Dec. 25, but open for regular hours on Dec. 26.

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum will be closed Dec. 23 to 26.

Ottawa Public Health

The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence St. will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26. The Site mobile van will operate on Dec. 25 and 26 from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The Sexual Health Clinic, dental clinics and Parenting-In-Ottawa drop-ins will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26.

Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine page for vaccination clinic hours and availability.

Shopping

Most retail stores will be closed on Dec. 25 and operating on reduced hours on Dec. 24.

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Bayshore Shopping Centre, CF Rideau Centre, St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Tanger Outlets and Place d’Orléans will all be closed on Dec. 25.

Bayshore and St. Laurent will be open on Boxing Day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tanger Outlets will also be open on Boxing Day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CF Rideau Centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 26, while Place d’Orléans will open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Grocery stores, LCBO, Wine Rack and The Beer Store locations will be closed on Christmas Day. Select stores will operate on holiday hours for Dec. 26, but it’s best to check in advance.

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